The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices Crossover

Chapter 2: The Rightful Protector

Author's Note:

If you haven't read The Mortal Instruments (City of Bones, City of Ashes and City of Glass, City of Fallen Angels and City of Lost Souls) as well as The Infernal Devices Trilogy (Clockwork Angel, Clockwork Prince and Clockwork Princess), all by Cassandra Clare, I advice you not to read this. Be spoilt at your own risk.

Focusing on Alec and Magnus for a while.

Clary and Jace can have their share later on.

Besides, this was Tessa's story.

"…by the end of the street, there'll be a pizzeria in front of your hotel." He looked at the lovely girl, she was about his age, and was as tall as Izzy. She nodded at every word without really understanding, and he would not be surprised if she ended up asking someone else for directions not halfway through her destination. "I'm guessing you'll never be lost by then."

Tessa nodded in the most convincing look of gratitude towards the young lad, shielding the blend of both relief and amazement that was there instead, "You have no idea how much of a help you are, Mister...?"

"Alec," He replied with the answer Tessa had wanted, "looks like it's your first time here?"

Tessa was surprised of his kindness. Of course he had to try to be nice, either out of genuine behavior or just to be polite. Definitely Cecily's great, great-grandson, bless the Angel, it wasn't Will's. "I've been here a while back, though it seemed like a hundred years ago." She just gave Alec one last nod to say thank you and started towards the direction of the hotel—a direction she clearly knew by heart. Alec continued on and crossed the street, continually walking towards the direction of the Institute until Tessa had lost sight of him.

The resemblance was uncanny but interesting. Tessa had never grasped something related to her past in such a long time. Perhaps, the sight of Alec might change her mind.

Alec Lightwood strode into the Institute to find a meeting at the common room. Everyone was there, except for maybe Luke, who was still trying to recover. Magnus was there too, his head was bent down listening to a serious argument between Jocelyn and Simon. Clary wasn't trying to put an effort to play referee between the two, so it might have been quite important. Jocelyn's flaming red hair looked surprisingly muted by the worry painted on her delicate face. Jace was the image of utter defeat, and Alec knew by then that there wasn't going to be any solution, and his parabatai would have started to think of a compromise. A reckless plan that would somehow involve just him in complete danger—and nobody, neither Alec could do anything to stop him.

"Are we all done?" Magnus spoke as soon as the worries had lessened.

The sarcasm in his voice could only mean annoyance and impatience, Alec silently thought. He walked in with an effort to keep his gaze away from Magnus. The warlock held his gaze for only a flicker of a moment, and turned to put his focus on the conversation. "This is a problem we all know that's beyond anything you could handle." Alec noted his usage of you, instead of we. Magnus was not fighting with them. "I could only do so much, such as seek further recommendations. Someone should handle this and give you the aid, but it's not going to be me."

"Are you declining?" Alec got the words out before thinking. "Th-The Clave could offer you protection."

"Yes, Alexander. I'm declining." Alec shivered at the use of his name, "because it's something I couldn't possibly handle, they have created a wall around Alicante and the power of the Dark Shadowhunters can be enough to strip me off of the eternal lifeline. Which you would have liked, I guess."

Alec gulped. Magnus wasn't the one to burst into emotion in front of an audience, still the words struck him like a seraph blade.

"If you consider the time wherein my heart almost got punctured, then I would have enough reason to decline here."

Maryse perked up from the armchair, "Then would it be possible for you to recommend anyone, Magnus?"

"I could do that, but I would not promise anything." He stood up and started to leave, "Situations like these won't guarantee you volunteers. They need to hold some kind of bloodline, or an oath of any kind."

Alec understood. Sebastian creating Dark Shadowhunters and threatening to destruct the whole of Idris was not an easy battle to be in the middle of.

"Better not be a demon again," Jace spoke, "That filthy thing is leaving a stench in the rooms."

Magnus started to leave, "Don't worry, I'll find you a half-demon instead."

"I really couldn't stand staying in such dark, cramped and dirty space." Jace muttered, as he drew Clary closer. An old leather-bound book was balanced in one of his hands. Clary lay beside him, while he read A Tale Of Two Cities to her. It was the only thing she accidentally brought from Sebastian's home. Dark and unimaginable memories clung unto the age-thinned pages, yet Jace felt attached to the book somehow. As if it had always belonged to him.

"You need those Marks," Clary looked at the heavy book instead of looking directly into his eyes. She knew that after all they have been through, he still needed all the protection he can have. "and besides Brother Zachariah seemed very nice. Like he owes you something."

Brother Zachariah had called him a Herondale, a direct reference to his lineage, as if the Silent Brother himself has watched over the bloodline in century.

Jace gently kissed her forehead, it was an affectionate gesture he had done out of habit. He was feeling a lot better now. The Heavenly Fire had finally drained out of his body and his fever had stopped. In a week, Jace was a strong and as cocky as he always was.

"I can't seem to fall asleep." Clary turned and faced Jace.

The boy just smiled at her and said, "I have that effect on women, should have warned you before."

Clary laughed. After all the bad and the ugly, Jace still hadn't lost his wit that made him the Jace everyone loved.

Magnus was walking towards his apartment when he saw him.

"Magnus," Alec grumbled in an uncertain voice.

The High Warlock of New York looked at the young Shadowhunter, there had been dark circles around his eyes. The boy had taken enough stress to worry about the death of Camille Belcourt and the reign of a reckless young vampire. Magnus always thought that Alec needed a break from all the work and killing. And blood. "You forgot something in the apartment, Alec?" The endearment in his voice was gone, "Because if you haven't, I still have an appointment to make."

His voice was cold and his message was clear—he did not want to talk to Alec just yet.

Alec just shrugged and said, "Maybe what I left isn't ready to be taken out yet." They both stood unmoving, a fair distance from one another. The still moment was pictured with a long, thinking gaze from Magnus, whose hand was frozen at the doorknob. Alec looked straight into his eyes, within his blue irises was full of defeated hope.

"Then I guess you'll be back when it's ready, then." Magnus said finally.

Alec whirled back and started to walk to the other direction. He did want Magnus to snap out of it and stop him. Ask him to stay for tea and talk about it.

As he heard the door open and clicked shut, he knew Magnus had never meant to talk to him.

He had watched Alec turn around as soon as he closed the door. He watched the boy look back, as if he had anticipated Magnus to suddenly change his mind. The Warlock had to admit, that he had been close to bolting back out.

Then again, Alec was young and had so much to learn. He was still sensitive and human at seventeen, as if all the days of danger had never taught him how to understand relationships and its cost. He pushed the thought away from his mind and checked if Alec was indeed far enough from the apartment.

Magnus respected Tessa's wish of privacy. She had only come back from London to revisit New York, not her past. The Institute would have no other options, however. The Warlock didn't want to act as if he served the Shadowhunters and he had somehow found a way to draw the line. Yet there was no doubt that he had learned to care for them and somehow. He knew his conscience would haunt him forever if he could have always done something.

Tessa's hotel room was simple and functional. It was obviously a space for only one person and Magnus had to sit on the bed. "I'm guessing you haven't got a guy on your bed for quite a long time."

Tessa laughed. "A really long time, I guess." She remembered that embarrassing moment in Mortmain's cave, Magnus sitting on the armchair with a face masked with nonchalance. "You want to order something or we get coffee two blocks down?"

"Cheap hotel tea is fine," Magnus was now sprawled over Tessa's stark white sheets. She nodded and called the front desk.

"American hotel rooms can be a bit plain," he casually muttered as Tessa was on the phone.

She put the phone down after ordering two cups of Russian Earl Grey and a plate of biscuits. "You need to talk to me about something?" She sat at the edge of the bed beside Magnus.

"Big news," He got up and ruffled this stick-point spikes. Apparently, Tessa thought, Magnus was too flamboyant for the 21st century. "The Institute would need you."

Her heart leapt, "How did they know about me?"

"They don't," His tone was calm, "but I think they would need you. There is so little I could do. You're the direct ancestor and the rightful protector, Tessa."

"Magnus, I—" She couldn't seem to find an instant reply.

"I know you didn't intend to do so," Magnus says. "I'm neither forcing you nor asking you. I'm just giving you a suggestion."

I'll cut it just about here. Came out earlier than I expected.

Let me know what you think! :)